First report of Colletotrichum plurivorum from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands causing anthracnose in chilli ( Capsicum annuum )

Abstract

Chilli pepper (Capsicum annuum) is an important spice crop worldwide, which is cultivated widely in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and accounts for one-third of the solanaceous vegetables grown in India. During the first quarter of 2017, severe leaf blight was observed in the field-grown chilli crops that resulted in substantial yield loss. On fruit, symptoms were characterised by sunken lesions with concentric rings of acervuli. Based on morphological characteristics, multigene sequence analysis and pathogenicity tests, the causal agent was identified as Colletotrichum plurivorum. This is thought to be the first report of anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum plurivorum on chilli from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands which are geographically well isolated from the Indian mainland, being closer to the southeast Asian countries. While this fungus is known to infect Capsicum annuum, the confirmed distribution range to date included Benin, Brazil, Cameroon, China, Iran, Puerto Rico and Vietnam.